Beyond the skiing: Spending time in Tokyo is a must - it is the world's most exciting city. Kyoto is the beating cultural heart of the nation. Get off the beaten track and stay in a ryokan or capsule hotel, visit markets, discover traditional Japanese arts and explore modern otaku culture.

Ski the Japanese Alps

Duration: two weeks

Staying on the main island - Honshu - this itinerary includes the best two resorts in the Japan Alps and also includes time in the buzzing capital and climaxes with a couple of days in ancient Kyoto. Nozawa Onsen and Hakuba offer a contrasting ski experience, one more cosmopolitan with a huge variety of on-mountain terrain and the other a more authentic, with a traditional Japanese alpine village atmosphere.

Day 1

Arrive in Tokyo and transfer to your central hotel, which will invariably be either in Shinjuku or near the Imperial Palace in the east of the city. Dive in to the madness of the capital.

Day 2

Spend the day exploring Tokyo. We have many excursions on offer, but you could also head out on your own - we have created sightseeing notes to help orientate you.

Day 3

Make your way up to Nozawa Onsen, where you check in to your hotel or ryokan in this pretty hot spring village. You could even get an afternoon on the slopes?

Days 4 - 6

Three days exploring Nozawa mountain - ski by day, relax in the hot springs by night. One day you may want to head out on an excursion to visit the snow monkeys.

Day 7

Transfer to Nagano City, where you could break the journey to visit Zenkoji Temple, before the short hop on to Hakuba. Check in to your accommodation in Happo, Wadano, Goryu or Cortina.

Days 8 - 11

Fours days skiing the Hakuba valley - our suggestion would be one day Happo One (cruising), one day Cortina (powder & trees), one day Goryu / Hakuba 47 (snow parks) and final day at Iwatake (the views!).

Day 12

Catch the train to Nagoya and then it's bullet train to Kyoto. Check in to your hotel or Ryokan and head out looking for geisha in Ponto-chō. Spend the night at a maiko performance.

Days 13 - 14

Two days sight-seeing in Kyoto. There are many excursions we can offer...but exploring the many temples and shrines under your own steam is also perfectly possible.

Day 15

Transfer to Kansai Airport and fly home.

Obviously, cost depends on which accommodation you choose, how many excursions and activities you want to book, whether you wish to include ski hire and lift passes…etc. An indicative lead-in price for this two week itinerary would be circa £1,395 (¥244,000) per person, based on 3 or 4 star accommodation (low season), transfers & lift passes.

Different Snow can also include flights from your home country, be it the UK or elsewhere. By keeping it all within one package, your arrangements are protected.

Different Snow strive to offer the most competitive prices in all instances. However, we pride ourselves first and foremost on quality - we are an independent specialist tour operator and, therefore, are not beholden to any supplier. We make our decisions based only on who’s best in each and every instance.

1. Get in touch with Different Snow

Whether you wish to plan your trip around one of these sample itineraries or you have other ideas, simply get in touch by phone or online. If using our online form, ideally we would like to still try get in contact with you by phone to discuss your requirements, but this is not essential.

2. Let us create a bespoke itinerary

We have the first-hand knowledge, travel industry experience and local contacts required to put your plans into action. We can answer your questions, offer suggestions and advice to suit your tastes and budget. We will carefully design your trip, creating a detailed itinerary which you will receive via email. We can then refine it until you are completely happy.

3. Confirm the arrangements with us

Once you are satisfied with all the arrangements, we ask you to complete a booking form and pay a deposit to secure your trip. Everything is secured once you receive our confirmation invoice. Even after booking, you’ll undoubtedly think of more questions. Feel free to call us at any time!

4. We'll send you your travel documents

Approximately three weeks before travel you will receive your travel documents. We will also provide additional information, such as restaurant recommendations, cultural notes, packing lists and one or two home-spun guides - created through our personal experience.

5. Tell your friends about Different Snow

It is important to us that your holiday exceeds your expectations! Different Snow will continue to grow through personal recommendations and word of mouth and, therefore, it is essential to us that you have a great holiday. We want you to travel with us again. Once you've returned we want to hear all about it and we'll certainly encourage you to tell all your friends!

Day 1

Arrive in Tokyo and transfer to your central hotel, which will invariably be either in Shinjuku or near the Imperial Palace in the east of the city. Dive in to the madness of the capital.

Day 2

Spend the day exploring Tokyo. We have many excursions on offer, but you could also head out on your own - we have created sightseeing notes to help orientate you.

Day 3

Make your way up to Nozawa Onsen, where you check in to your hotel or ryokan in this pretty hot spring village. You could even get an afternoon on the slopes?

Days 4 - 6

Three days exploring Nozawa mountain - ski by day, relax in the hot springs by night. One day you may want to head out on an excursion to visit the snow monkeys.

Day 7

Transfer to Nagano City, where you could break the journey to visit Zenkoji Temple, before the short hop on to Hakuba. Check in to your accommodation in Happo, Wadano, Goryu or Cortina.

Days 8 - 11

Fours days skiing the Hakuba valley - our suggestion would be one day Happo One (cruising), one day Cortina (powder & trees), one day Goryu / Hakuba 47 (snow parks) and final day at Iwatake (the views!).

Day 12

Catch the train to Nagoya and then it's bullet train to Kyoto. Check in to your hotel or Ryokan and head out looking for geisha in Ponto-chō. Spend the night at a maiko performance.

Days 13 - 14

Two days sight-seeing in Kyoto. There are many excursions we can offer...but exploring the many temples and shrines under your own steam is also perfectly possible.

Day 15

Obviously, cost depends on which accommodation you choose, how many excursions and activities you want to book, whether you wish to include ski hire and lift passes…etc. An indicative lead-in price for this two week itinerary would be circa £1,395 (¥244,000) per person, based on 3 or 4 star accommodation (low season), transfers & lift passes.

Different Snow can also include flights from your home country, be it the UK or elsewhere. By keeping it all within one package, your arrangements are protected.

Different Snow strive to offer the most competitive prices in all instances. However, we pride ourselves first and foremost on quality - we are an independent specialist tour operator and, therefore, are not beholden to any supplier. We make our decisions based only on who’s best in each and every instance.

1. Get in touch with Different Snow

Whether you wish to plan your trip around one of these sample itineraries or you have other ideas, simply get in touch by phone or online. If using our online form, ideally we would like to still try get in contact with you by phone to discuss your requirements, but this is not essential.

2. Let us create a bespoke itinerary

We have the first-hand knowledge, travel industry experience and local contacts required to put your plans into action. We can answer your questions, offer suggestions and advice to suit your tastes and budget. We will carefully design your trip, creating a detailed itinerary which you will receive via email. We can then refine it until you are completely happy.

3. Confirm the arrangements with us

Once you are satisfied with all the arrangements, we ask you to complete a booking form and pay a deposit to secure your trip. Everything is secured once you receive our confirmation invoice. Even after booking, you’ll undoubtedly think of more questions. Feel free to call us at any time!

4. We'll send you your travel documents

Approximately three weeks before travel you will receive your travel documents. We will also provide additional information, such as restaurant recommendations, cultural notes, packing lists and one or two home-spun guides - created through our personal experience.

5. Tell your friends about Different Snow

It is important to us that your holiday exceeds your expectations! Different Snow will continue to grow through personal recommendations and word of mouth and, therefore, it is essential to us that you have a great holiday. We want you to travel with us again. Once you've returned we want to hear all about it and we'll certainly encourage you to tell all your friends!

Beyond the skiing: Spending time in Tokyo is a must - it is the world's most exciting city. Kyoto is the beating cultural heart of the nation. Get off the beaten track and stay in a ryokan or capsule hotel, visit markets, discover traditional Japanese arts and explore modern otaku culture.